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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT; 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION 



OF THE 



FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 



of the INCORPORATION of the 



TOWN OF MATTAPOISETT 



MASSACHUSETTS 



AUGUST 18-24, 1907 




NEW BEDFORD, MASS.: 

E. Anthony & Sons, Inc., Printers 
1908. 



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1 of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Hece'ved 

JAN 7 1909 
_ copyrtirnt . tntry fl 



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Copyright 1908 

By IRVING NILES TILDEN 

Chairman Committee on Publication 

Mattapoisett, Mass. 



Five Hundred Copies of this Book have been printed, of which 
one has been sent to each person who contributed to the fund for the 
celebration. The remainder will be for sale at twenty-five cents each. 



PREFACE 



Fifty years ago a Mattapoisett home would have been 
incomplete, its mistress lacking in taste and sensibility, 
if the parlor table had not been ornamented with vari- 
ous "Tokens," "Keepsakes" or "Souvenirs" — little 
volumes bound in black and gold, containing gems of 
prose and verse, illustrated by steel engravings of 
Venetian or other foreign scenes, fair ladies and brave 
men, the latter generally in the characters of High- 
landers, Giaours or Pirates. 

These are now banished to the top shelf of the book- 
case, or packed away in the attic, among other old 
book friends ; too shabby for association with the newest 
novel in its gay binding and Christy girl frontispiece, 
too dear to throw away. Too dear, it may be, because 
of the delicate slanting writing on the fly leaf, bearing 
the owner 's and the donor 's names. 

In the year which has just passed, we have very much 
enjoyed observing the fiftieth anniversary of the incor- 
poration of our town and reading its past history; 
and on many social occasions or casual meetings there 
has been much reminiscent talk. The quaint old town 
characters have been recalled, their witty sayings, 
practical jokes and doggerel rhymes repeated ; and more 
than once has some one wished that we could have 
pictures of the village as it looked fifty years ago, and 
more memorials of the past village life. 

Fifty years from now we trust the Mattapoisett 
people will want to observe their centennial ; and they 



will be just as curious about our celebration and our 
times as we are about those of fifty years ago. For 
their benefit, as well as to hold the passing interest in 
the Anniversary a little longer, we have revived the 
old fashion of presenting to our friends a ' ' Souvenir, ' ' 
made up of pictures, prose and verse, which, though 
it does not aspire to the literary and artistic elegance 
of the old ones, may yet have some value as a keepsake 
now, and arouse some interest in the future. 

Irving N. Tilden, M. D. 
Mary F. Briggs 
Gertrude W. Dexter 

Committee. 



THE CELEBRATION 

It has been said concerning birthdays and anniver- 
saries, that it is pleasant to find flowers on the mile- 
stones as we pass along. The year 1907 was a milestone 
upon which flowers were scattered — flowers of rhetoric 
at least. 

The Exposition at Jamestown, Va., the laying of the 
corner stone of the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Monu- 
ment, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the 
Atlantic Monthly, were all occasions for many speeches 
and printed articles, commemorating beginnings in our 
history and letters, and eulogizing the influences which 
have flowed from them. While Mattapoisett, with the 
rest of the world, was interested in these observances, 
she had a few wreaths to twine around the milestone 
of 1907 in honor of her own fiftieth birthday. 

It has been within recent years the fashion — and a 
most charming one — for country towns to make a 
holiday fete in the summer, called Old Home Week, 
which all exiled children, who have "wandered like 
truants for riches or fame," are invited home to enjoy. 
Such a fete and reunion was desired in Mattapoisett, 
and the suggestion was first made by Mr. Lemuel 
LeBaron Dexter at one of the Improvement Associa- 
tion meetings, that the fiftieth anniversary of the in- 
corporation of the town be observed in that way. The 
idea met with much favor and was frequently discussed. 

At length the time arrived to bring it before the pub- 
lic town meeting, in order, according to the old phrase — ■ 



6 MATTAPOISETT 

"to get the town's mind," also a necessary appropria- 
tion of money. Now, "the town's mind," as mani- 
fested in town meeting, might sometimes be more 
correctly expressed as a small portion of the town's 
whim; and whenever there is a measure of particular 
interest to non-voters, there is usually some anxiety as 
to its reception and fate. 

In the warrant calling a special town meeting, 
August 4, 1906, to consider principally the advisability 
of using the Barstow School funds for transporting 
High School pupils to Fairhaven, the following article 
was inserted : "To see what action the town will take 
in regard to celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its 
incorporation as a town." At this meeting the motion 
was made that the town should celebrate the anniver- 
sary, and was carried by the vote of one man, Mr. 
Charles S. Mendell; there was no opposition. This 
singular indifference can be explained only by the infer- 
ence that the "town's mind" was greatly preoccupied 
by other business. 

Another vote was taken instructing the moderator, 
Mr. J. E. Norton Shaw, to appoint a committee of five 
to consider the matter — and the manner — of observing 
the anniversary and report at the next regular town 
meeting, February, 1907. The committee chosen were : 
Mr. Charles S. Mendell, Mr. Charles S. Hamlin, Judge 
Lemuel LeBaron Holmes, Mr. Isaiah P. Atsatt, Mr. 
Dennis Mahoney, and by invitation of these, the number 
was increased to eleven. Others were afterwards 
chosen to assist on sub-committees. 

The first meeting of the original committee was held 
October 27, 1906. It was desired to make the anniver- 
sary the chief significance of the celebration, and to 







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SEMI-CENTENNIAL 7 

work for the inspiring of interest in the past and 
endeavor for the future, as well as for a general good 
time and reunion of old friends. To that end one of 
the first acts, at the suggestion of Judge Holmes, was the 
appointment of a committee to compile a history of the 
town. They secured the services of Miss Mary Hall 
Leonard of Eochester, who very ably wrote the early 
history of the town (which history Mattapoisett in- 
herits), and of others who added chapters especially 
relating to Mattapoisett. 

Although hurriedly gotten together, the book was 
completed in time to be on sale in August, 1907 — the 
month chosen for the celebration on account of its being 
the usual holiday season for the expected visitors. 

As usual in any undertaking the great first need was 
money. The committee made their report at the Feb- 
ruary town meeting and asked for an appropriation of 
$500. This was granted heartily. A sub-committee 
on Finance was appointed who sent out requests to the 
people of the town, former residents and those inter- 
ested in her welfare, to give according to their ability. 
The response to these letters was extremely generous, 
especially on the part of those who spend only their 
summer season in town. In all over $2200 was ob- 
tained by this means alone. This sum with that ap- 
propriated by the town gave the committee a sense of 
freedom and enabled them to carry out their plans in 
the best way. A Committee on Invitation was chosen 
who sent to 272 persons in town a request for the 
names and addresses of former residents. In response 
to this request, the committee received 540 names and 
addresses covering all parts of the United States, Eng- 
land and Australia also included. Under date of Julv 



8 MATTAPOISETT 

23 the following invitation was sent to these addresses : 

"The town of Mattapoisett most cordially invites you 
to attend the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of its 
incorporation as a town, which will take place August 20th, 
1907. 

To all sons and daughters of the old town, either by 
birth, descent or adoption, and their families, a general in- 
vitation to be present is extended. 

Come and see how Mattapoisett has progressed, visit 
your old home and scenes of bygone days, and help us to 
make our celebration an occasion long to be remembered. 

If you are in doubt about being entertained, write to Dr. 
Irving N. Tilden, Chairman of the Committee on Hospitali- 
ty, who will arrange for quarters for you. 

Sincerely, 
Committee on Invitation." 

The Hospitality Committee had their headquarters 
in the Public Library. Their duties were to provide 
board and lodging for visitors and the town was can- 
vassed for the purpose in advance. It was difficult to 
secure accommodations, as in nearly every household 
as many guests were expected as could be entertained. 
Because of this fact doubtless, there were but few 
applicants and those were easily provided for. 

The ladies of the W. C. T. U. sold sandwiches and 
lemonade to transient visitors from a tent east of Pur- 
rington Hall. 

A town celebration with no decorations would be 
like a mince pie without plums. Be sure the plums 
were not omitted from this pie. Much credit is due 
the Decorating Committee for their tasteful work. All 
the public buildings, the stores and many of the private 
residences were gay with bunting. Church Street was 
particularly attractive. The trolley poles and wire 



3) U) 

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SEMI-CENTENNIAL 9 

usually so ugly, were made to serve a decorative pur- 
pose by holding arches of bunting. The most charm- 
ing feature of the decorations was the Grand Arch 
erected in the main street of the village, just west of 
Barstow Street. By day its excellent proportions and 
artistic color combinations made it most pleasing, while 
at night brilliantly lighted by electricity, it became the 
centre of attraction. Surmounting the arch were two 
sketches of a whaler, on one face under full sail, on 
the other under bare poles. These sketches were made 
by Mrs. Francis E. Bacon after an unsuccessful search 
through all this region for a model of a whaler of the 
right dimensions for the place. 

The town is indebted to Mrs. Bacon also for her 
artistic work in preparing the town sign which still 
remains at the corner of Church and Main Streets. 
This is the picture of the welcoming Indian which may 
be seen on the cover of this book. 

The Publicity Committee advertised the celebration 
through the Press, and the other committees had charge 
of the various features of the entertainment programme. 

The observance began Sunday afternoon, August 18, 
with a service at the Congregational Church at which 
all the clergymen in the town assisted. The sermon 
was given by the Rev. William H. Cobb, D. D., Libra- 
rian at the Congregational House, Boston, who is one 
of Old Rochester's sons by birth and ancestry, both his 
father and grandfather having been ministers at Sippi- 
can. 

The following day was a busy one of preparation 
for the coming festivities and the home entertainment 
of guests, many of whom arrived then. 

On the morning of Tuesday the 20th, the people again 



10 MATTAPOISETT 

met in the Congregational Church, which under the di- 
rection of Mr. I. P. Atsatt had been decorated with flags 
and bunting, potted hydrangeas and bouquets of 
flowers. 

The Hon. Charles S. Hamlin gave the first address, 
welcoming the home-comers in the name of the com- 
mittee. In speaking of the recent death of Judge 
Holmes which had thrown a shadow of sadness over the 
observance, he voiced the regret of all who knew of his 
interest and efforts for its success, that he was not 
spared to see it. 

Mr. Hamlin gave also a warm tribute of praise to 
the town which was being honored — his adopted home 
— and after a selection by the orchestra introduced the 
' ' distinguished son of Mattapoisett who stands eminent 
as a jurist among jurists," Judge John W. Hammond. 

In beginning, Judge Hammond said that it would be 
pretty hard work to come up to what was expected of 
him after so complimentary an introduction, but as his 
address was written beforehand, the people would know 
he wasn 't influenced by it. He then read his address, 
which was greatly enjoyed by the large audience pres- 
ent and is printed in this book for the enjoyment of 
others. 

Judge Hammond was the son of Nathaniel and Maria 
Southworth Hammond, and was born in Mattapoisett 
December 16, 1837. He was educated in the schools 
of his native town, at Tuft's College and the Harvard 
Law School. He taught school, served nine months in 
the Civil War, was admitted to the Bar at Cambridge 
in 1866 and practiced law in Cambridge and Boston, 
being City Solicitor of Cambridge from 1873 to 1886. 
In March, 1886, he was appointed to a seat upon the 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 11 

Bench of the Superior Court and later advanced to 
the Supreme Bench. He married Miss Clara Tweed., 
daughter of Prof. Benjamin Tweed of Tuft's College, 
and has lived in Cambridge since 1866. 

The afternoon of Tuesday was devoted to field sports 
and contests by the young people on the School grounds. 
These w r ere very creditable and gave amusement to a 
large number of enthusiastic spectators. In the even- 
ing the houses were illuminated and the Mattapoisett 
Band marched through the streets and later gave a 
concert in front of the Town Hall, while the Executive 
Committee held a public reception within. 

In arranging the programme of the week, it w T as first 
proposed to have for a social event, a banquet in the 
Town Hall followed by speeches. At the request of 
Judge Holmes the plan was given up, and the reception 
with simple refreshments took its place. This was 
much enjoyed by the many old friends who met to- 
gether; and the kindly thought of Judge Holmes that 
such an evening could be enjoyed by all, while a limited 
number would probably go to the "banquet," was not 
forgotten, and his own genial witty personality sadly 
missed by many friends. 

Wednesday morning all of the children, and many 
of the older people, upon arising looked anxiously out 
at the weather, for that was the day of the street parade, 
and Mattapoisett street parades are highly appreciated. 
The day was fair and the parade led by the Matta- 
poisett Band was quite the finest ever seen in town. 
It expressed sentiment and patriotism in the floats con- 
taining the old soldiers — whom Mattapoisett always 
delights to honor — the pretty group of children repre- 
senting the states, and the very charming "Ship of 



12 MATTAPOISETT 

State ' ' with Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia at the helm. 
More sentiment and memories of bygone days were 
inspired by the whale boat and whale — to many the 
most amusing and cleverly designed of all. Fun and 
humor were supplied by the local hits and grotesque 
figures after the style of the usual Fourth of July 
parades, and the carriages, automobiles and business 
wagons gaily decked with flags and flowers were very 
attractive and showed the popularity and prosperity 
of the town in its present role of seaside resort. 

After the parade at noon an excellent clambake 
dinner was served in a tent set up for the purpose at 
the corner of Church and Barstow Streets. 

It has been the custom of the Improvement Associa- 
tion to give each Summer a lawn party and a concert. 
These were included among the attractions of the week, 
but they were in charge of a committee appointed by 
the Association, and the funds received belonged to it, 
and were not used to defray anniversary expenses. 
The lawn party, with the various booths prettily deco- 
rated, held "Wednesday afternoon and evening on 
Mr. George A. Barstow 's lawn, was very attractive, 
especially when lighted by electricity in the evening — 
at this date a charming novelty in Mattapoisett. Music 
was furnished by Milo Burke's Band from Brockton. 

On Thursday morning there was a ball game on the 
School grounds, between the Bristols of Rhode Island 
and the Mattapoisetts, resulting in victory for the latter 
in a score of 8 to 3. 

The steamboat excursion around the bay on Thurs- 
day afternoon was quite a social occasion, so many old 
friends "visiting" together on board. There at least 
one could not complain of changes. On the shore to 



> > 

D CI 




SEMI-CENTENNIAL 13 

be sure were many new houses, but the curving outline 
was the same and it faded away into the same blue 
shadows, as in the boyhood of some present when they 
sailed out of the harbor on their first voyage leaving 
not quite so merry a party waving adieu. There were 
the same blue waves dancing up to meet the fleecy 
white clouds, the salt breeze with its dreamy influence, 
the sunset colors when homeward bound; and all these 
will be left for the excursion on the bay at the next 
semi-centennial celebration, although that outing will 
probabty not be taken on the Steamboat "Martha's 
Vineyard." 

At eight o 'clock came the concert which the Improve- 
ment Association had arranged for, and to the music 
lovers this was the climax of the week's festivities. 

Through the kindness of Mr. Irving Swan Brown of 
Worcester we were fortunate enough to hear again Mr. 
Thaddeus Rich who had delighted a Mattapoisett audi- 
ence the year before with his skillful playing of the 
violin. He is a young man widely known as a violinist 
of unusual merit and was for some time concertmeister 
of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Philadelphia. Mr. 
Rich gave a number of solos of wonderful beauty and 
sweetness and was greatly enjoyed in the two trios, 
with Mr. Carl Lamson of Boston, at the piano, and Mr. 
Brown adding much to the harmony with his cello. 

Mr. Theodore Wood is a deservedly popular baritone 
in New Bedford and Miss Alice Mitchell, a pleasing 
soprano in Providence, and both gave their solos most 
acceptably. Miss Alice G. Anthony of New Bedford 
accompanied Miss Mitchell in her usual finished style. 
The musical programme was pleasantly varied by Mrs. 
Daniel Dulany Addison of Brookline, who amused her 



14 MATTAPOISETT 

audience with a little comedy — Dr. Moonshine — in 
which she impersonated the several characters of the 
story. All of these gave their services freely and there- 
fore are doubly entitled to the gratitude of all who en- 
joyed this expression of their talent. 

The connection of Mattapoisett with her neighbors 
by trolley is still something of a novelty, and the route 
which encircles all of the old Rochester territory 
charming and varied in scenery. It leads through town 
and country, under stretches of woodland shade, gives 
fleeting glimpses of the sea and more lingering visions 
of beautiful lakes and streams. This trolley ride was 
Friday morning's diversion, with picnic lunch or clam- 
bake at Brooklawn Park. 

At 3 P. M. there was another ball game on the School 
grounds between married and single players, the mar- 
ried men winning in a score of 3 to 2. 

Friday evening there was a dance at the Town Hall, 
with music by Burke's Orchestra from Brockton. 

The success of a week of outdoor festivities depends 
largely upon good weather, and the perverseness of 
Nature in weeping upon such occasions, as well as on 
weddings and picnics, is but too well known. Each 
day of the celebration had been fair however, until 
Saturday, the last day, which was stormy. So the 
yacht and motor boat races — including the boats of the 
visiting Beverly yacht club — were tardily undertaken 
and conducted under difficulties. Many people were 
disappointed in not being able to see from shore and 
wharves, the fair sight of the harbor white with sails. 

The rain did not prevent music lovers from enjoying 
the organ recital in the Universalist Church that after- 
noon, but the band concert and fireworks which were 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 15 

to wind up the week's festivities in the evening were 
postponed until Tuesday night. Unfortunately that 
evening also was cloudy, ending in rain, and the last to 
linger on streets and wharves were caught in the 
showers, but not before the programme had been car- 
ried out. The band played at the head of Long Wharf ; 
the harbor was illuminated with a big bonfire on 
Holmes' wharf and red lights at various places; visit- 
ing yachts were lighted with electric lights and the 
display of fireworks was a fine one, including two "set 
pieces" especially designed for Mattapoisett's Anni- 
versary. 

The visitors' book at the Public Library records the 
names, dates of birth and length of residence in town., 
of just two hundred people. The oldest of these were 
Mrs. Susan Denham Taber of Fairhaven, who was born 
in Mattapoisett in 1823 and lived here until 1848; 
Mrs. Lucy Barstow Gurney of Norfolk Downs, born 
1824, left town in 1837 ; and Mr. Ezra Dexter of Chelsea, 
a resident of Mattapoisett from 1826 to 1847. 

Many of these two hundred guests are frequently in 
town, others have not been back for years. To all, this 
little book will serve as a reminder of a pleasant week — 
pleasant not only because of the excursions and enter- 
tainments so hastily sketched here, but for the charm 
of going back in spirit to one's youth, of visiting places 
once loved and frequented, of seeing again old friends, 
and talking over the past with them. 

Many of the older people, at least, have a tender 
memory of such reminiscent chats with Mr. Ellis Men- 
dell in his store, — he who so soon after "joined the 
great majority." 

If any of the visitors or home people are so fortunate 



16 MATTAPOISETT 

as to see that coming celebration fifty years from now, 
they can of course make comparisons. No doubt that 
will be a very fine affair, but this one had some features 
worthy of being noted. 

Mattapoisett has not outgrown her Pilgrim inherit- 
ance so but she can still take pleasure seriously. There 
was no carnival frolicing, no Fourth of July lawless- 
ness, no disorderly or intoxicated persons were seen 
in town during the week. The observance was insti- 
tuted and conducted by the most serious citizens with 
the serious purpose of uniting in a common interest, 
all who love "the beautiful town that is seated by the 
sea" — their home past or present. 

Incidentally, everybody had a good time ; so it was 
a great success; and that is all which can be expected 
of the next celebration; even though they should sail 
over old Rochester-town in an airship or explore the 
bottom of Buzzards Bay by submarine vessel. 




W. E. Sparrow, Jr. W. E. Blaine J. E. Norton Shaw Mrs. J. L. Hammond 
N.S.Mendel] [. N. Tilden Miss H. F. Nelson. l.P.Atsatl L.LeB.Dexter 

E.C.Stetson J.S.Burbank C.S.Mendell D. Mahoney 



CELEBRATION COMMITTEE 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 17 



FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
COMMITTEES. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE — 

Charles S. Mendell, President 

James S. Burbank, Secretary 

Dr. Walter E. Blaine, Secretary 

Lemuel LeBaron Dexter, Treasurer 

Charles S. Hamlin 

Isaiah P. Atsatt 

Lemuel LeBaron Holmes 

Dennis Mahoney 

J. E. Norton Shaw 

William E. Sparrow, Jr. 

Rogers L. Barstow 

Everett C. Stetson 

Nathan S. Mendell 

Lester W. Jenney 

Dr. Irving N. Tilden 

Mrs. James L. Hammond 

Miss Hannah P. Nelson 

SUB-COMMITTEES — 
Athletic— 

J. E. Norton Shaw, Chairman 

Ellis L. Mendell 

Addison Curtis 

Louis C. Bacon 

Arthur C. Perchard 

Mrs. Frank J. Abbe 



Book — 



Charles S. Hamlin, Chairman 
W T illiam E. Sparrow, Jr. 
Lemuel LeBaron Dexter 
Mrs. James L. Hammond 
Lemuel LeBaron Holmes 



Invitation- 



Decoration — 



18 MATTAPO'ISETT 

Hospitality — 

Dr. Irving N. Tilden, Chairman 
John T. Atsatt 
Miss Hannah F. Nelson 
Miss Gertrude W. Dexter 
Miss Mary P. Briggs 

Publicity — 

Lester W. Jenney, ^Chairman 
Charles H. Johnson 
Nathan Smith 

James S. Burbank, Chairman 
Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin 
Mrs. Frank M. Sparrow 

Nathan S. Mendell, Chairman 

Dennis Mahoney 

John S. Hammond 

Charles F. Nye 

Miss Charlotte Parsons 

Mrs. Francis E. Bacon 

Everett C. Stetson, Chairman 
Harry W. Griffin 
Theophilus Parsons 
Mrs. Edward E. Wood 

Lawn Party — 

Dr. Walter E. Blaine, Chairman 

Mrs. Ellis L. Mendell 

Charles S. Mendell 

Charles F. Nye 

Addison Curtis 

Mrs. Jane R. Stanton 

Mrs. Frank J. Abbe 

Mrs. Lemuel LeBaron Dexter 

Miss Wealtha Stetson 

Miss Abbie W. Bolles 



Finance— 




THE OLD STAGE COACH 
[pa rade] 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



19 



Concert — 

Parade — 
Clambake- 



Miss Edith M. Burbank 
Miss Mary E. Ferrell 
Mrs. Frank M. Sparrow 
Mrs. Arthur C. Perchard 

Dr. Irving N. Tilden, Chairman 
Mrs. Irving N. Tilden 
Miss Florence F. Purrington 
Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin 

Addison Curtis 

Isaiah P. Atsatt 



20 MATTAPOISETT 



TREASURER'S REPORT 



LEMUEL LeBARON DEXTER, TREASURER 
SEMI-CENTENNIAL FUND 

Dr. 

For subscriptions as follows: 

(Including $12 5 especially given toward the preparation 



of a book of history) 




One of $150.00, 


$150.00 


One of $125.00, 


125.00 


Ten of $100.00, 


1,000.00 


One of $75.00, 


75.00 


Four of $50.00, 


200.00 


One of $35.00, 


35.00 


Nine of $25.00, 


225.00 


Five of $20.00, 


100.00 


Fifteen of $10.00, 


150.00 


Twenty-six of $5.00, 


130.00 


Thirty-two of less than $5.00, 


47.00 $2,237.00 


Town appropriation, 


500.00 



$2,737.00 

Included in the above were contributions from the 

following New Bedford business firms: Evening Standard, 

C. F. Wing Co., Household, Steiger, Dudgeon Co., N. B. 

& O. Street Railway Co., John W. Paul. 

Paid orders approved by the general committee: 

On account of Committee on Book of History: 

Mary Hall Leonard, contract, $250.00 

Francis T. Hammond, work on map, 1.50 

James E. Reed, photographs, 7.90 

L. B. Dayton, stenography, 28.50 

H. S. Hutchinson & Co., use of photograph, 1.00 
Grafton Press, in addition to publishing 
contract, 26 extra cuts, extra proof 
correction, and indexing, 252.55 

J. S. Conant & Co., village map, 12.50 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



21 



Frank M. Metcalf, map, 

J. G. Tirrell, photographs, 

Lester W. Jenney, typewriting expense, 

Harriet M. Hammond, typewriting, travel, 
etc., 

William E. Sparrow, Jr., travel and ex- 
pense, 

Lemuel LeB. Dexter, typewriting, travel, 
expenses, 



Committee on Hospitality. 

Mary F. Dexter, garment tags, 
Grace A. Tilden, custodian, 



5.00 
8.60 
5.00 

12.30 

2.00 

38.15 



Committee on Publicity. 

Dennison Manufacturing Co., special 

stamps, 50.00 

Lester W. Jenney, expense, 4.10 

Geo. E. Barrows, printing, 1.20 



5.00 
9.38 



Committee on Reception. 

Charles S. Mendell, expense, 2.50 

C. E. Tolman, orchestra, 15.00 

Abbe & Griffin, supplies, 2.39 

Committee on Finance. 

E. Anthony & Sons, papers mailed, , 5.75 

Charles S. Mendell, postage, printing, 

stationery, 
George E. Barrows, printing, 
Mary W. Wood, postage and expense 

Committee on Invitations. 

James S. Burbank, postage and expenses, 
George E. Barrows, printing, 
E. Anthony & Sons, printing, 

Committee on Sunday Services. 

George L. Shaw, on account of music, 13.20 
Rev. Dr. William H. Cobb, sermon, travel, 

and expense, 3 2.00 

George E. Barrows, printing programs, 4.20 



42.05 
3.50 
2.36 


3, 15.89 
8.55 
8.20 



$625.00 



55.30 



14.38 



19.89 



53.66 



32.64 



49.40 



22 



MATTAPOISETT 



Committee on Organ Recital. 

George L. Shaw, expenses, 
Edgar A. Barrell, organist, 
George E. Barrows, programs, 



.50 
5.00 
1.25 



Committee on Semi-Centennial Service. 

Hon. John W. Hammond, expenses, 4.40 



C. E. Tolman, orchestra, 
Isaiah P. Atsatt, expenses, 

Committee on Clambake. 

For use of tent, 

Isaiah P. Atsatt, expenses, 



12.80 
2.20 



20.00 
13.22 



Committee on Decorations. 

J. B. Athearn, electric fixtures, rented, 10.55 
J. S. Hammond, arch contract and ex- 
penses, 78.77 
Blair Sign Co., general contract, 300.00 
H. S. Potter, electric letters, 6.00 
N. B. Gas & Edison Light Co., current, etc., 25.00 
John S. Dexter, expenses, at beach, 4.00 
J. S. Hammond, trees on Luce lot, 3.13 



Committee on Badges. 

A. R. Lopez & Co., special badges, 12.30 

Warren P. Tobey, general order, badges, 43.25 

S. Lee Sparrow, commission on sales, 8.39 



Received from sales of badges, 



63.94 
41.96 



Committee on Events of the Week. 

Addison Curtis, on account of parade, 50.00 

Addison Curtis, sports, 50.00 

Arthur C. Perchard, for ball game, 60.00 

Ellis L. Mendell, for Milo Burke's Band, 100.00 

Ellis L. Mendell, for fireworks, 150.00 

Ellis L. Mendell, for illumination, 25.00 
Joseph R. Taber, Jr., Treas., Mattapoisett 

Band, 150.00 

N. B. & O. St. Railway Co., special cars, 134.5 

J. E. Norton Shaw, on account steamer, 75.00 



6.75 



19.40 



33.22 



427.45 



21.98 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 23 

J. E. Norton Shaw, printing, 50.00 

J. E. Norton Shaw, incidentals, 50.00 

J. E. Norton Shaw, yacht race, 150.00 
George E. Barrows, printing, 2.00 

Arthur C. Perchard, second ball game, 15.00 



1,061.50 



Cash returned by J. E. Norton 
Shaw, proceeds of car fares and 
steamer tickets, as general bal- 
ance from committee, 109.16 



952.34 



On account of officers and general committee. 

George E. Barrows, general stationery, 28.40 
Charles S. Mendell, typewriting, postage, 21.05 
George E. Barrows, general programs, 15.00 
George A. Austin, street watering, 15.00 
James S. Burbank, Secretary's expenses, 4.25 
Walter E. Blaine, Secretary's expenses, 1.25 
E. Anthony & Sons, receipts for treasurer, 2.25 
Lemuel LeBaron Dexter, treasurer's ex- 
penses, 4.05 



91.25 



Committee on Souvenir Book. 

James E. Reed, photographs, 8.00 

E. P. Tilghman, photographs, 1.00 

K. K. Najarian, photographs, 1.50 

E. Anthony & Sons, printing and bind- 
ing, cuts, etc., 195.75 

Irving N. Tilden, committee expenses, 3.25 

Postage, express and delivery of book 

to contributors, 7.80 

217.30 

Reimbursed $10.64 to each of eleven 

guarantors, 117.04 



$2,737.00 



24 MATTAPOISETT 



RESOLUTIONS 

Adopted by the 

Mattapoisett Semi-Centennial Committee 

WHEREAS, in the midst of its labors, the fiftieth 
anniversary committee of Mattapoisett has been sadly 
reminded of the uncertainty of life by the sudden 
death of one of its members, Judge Lemuel LeBaron 
Holmes, and 

WHEREAS, this sad occurrence has filled us with 
sorrow and regret, and 

WHEREAS, we recognize the deep interest he mani- 
fested in the welfare of this town and its people — that 
he cherished the memories of its past, and was full of 
hope and confidence in its future : 

RESOLVED, that we tender our sincere sympathy 
to the family of the deceased in its deep bereavement, 

RESOLVED, that we express our appreciation of his 
noble and manly character, and his high and honorable 
attainments — and, that, as we recall the worthy and 
respected townsmen who have fallen by the pathway 
of time, another distinguished name has been added 
to the long list, 

RESOLVED, that a copy of these resolutions be sent 
to the family and also entered in the records of the 
committee. 

Signed, William E. Sparrow, Jr. 

Isaiah P. Atsatt 
For the 50th Anniversary Committee. 




Hon. LEMUEL LeBARON HOLMES 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 25 

Official Programmes 

AUGUST 18--25, 1907 



Sunday August 18. 

Special services in Congregational Church at 
2 P. M. 

Speaker — Rev. W. H. Cobb of Boston. 

Tuesday August 20. 

10.30 A. M. — Address by Hon. J. W. Hammond 
of Supreme Judicial Court, Boston. 
Music — Tolman's Orchestra, 
Congregational Church. 
2.30 P. M. — Athletic sports at School Park. 
Evening — Band Concert and Village Illumina- 
tion. 

General Reception in Town Hall, 8.30 o'clock. 

Wednesday August 21. 

9.30 A.M. — Parade in four sections: Antique, 
Business, Driving Horses, and Automobiles. 
Mattapoisett Band. 

12.30 — Clambake on grounds opposite Congrega- 
tional Church. 

3 to 10 P. M. — Improvement Association Lawn 
Party with Burke's Brockton Band of 22 pieces 
in evening, at corner Pearl and Main sts. 

Thursday August 22. 

10 A. M. — Ball Game, School Ground, Mattapoisett 

vs. Bristols of Rhode Island. 
1.30 P. M. — Steamboat excursion in Buzzards 

Bay and Vineyard Sound. 
Evening, 6-8 o'clock — Concert by Mattapoisett 

Band. 
8 o'clock — Improvement Association Vocal and 

Instrumental Concert in Town Hall. 



2 6 MATTAPOISETT 

Friday August 23. 

8.5 A. M. — Trolley Ride to Marion, Wareham, 
Middleboro, Lakeville, New Bedford, and Fair- 
haven. 

3 P. M. — Ball Game, School Ground, between 
Local teams. 

Evening — Town Hall, 8 o'clock. Grand Ball, 
Burke's Brockton Orchestra, eight pieces. 

Saturday August 24. 

1 P. M. — Motor boat races. Beverly Yacht Club 

races open to all. 
3 P. M. — Organ recital in Universalist Church. 
Evening — Harbor Illumination, Grand display 

of Fireworks at 8 o'clock, from wharf. Band 

Concert. 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



27 



UNION SERVICE 

Congregational Church August 18th, 1907 

At 2 p. m. 



THE ORDER OF SERVICE 
Organ Voluntary 



Doxology 
Invocation 

Solo — Gloria 

Psalm 90 



Mr. Edgar Lord. 

The Rev. C. Julian Tuthill 

Mr. W. H. Bassett 

The Rev. W. H. Falkner 



Solo — Come Unto Me 

Mrs. L. H. Miller 
Hebrews 13 

The Rev. W. H. Falkner 

Solo — The Way of Peace 

Mr. W. H. Bassett 
Prayer 

The Rev. P. A. Allen, Jr. 
Violin — Largo 

Miss Florence F. Purrington 
Hymn 

Address 

The Rev. W. H. Cobb, D. D. 

Solo — The Plains of Peace 

Mrs. L. H. Miller 



Buzzi-Peccia 

Coenen 

Lloyd 

Handel 
Italian 

Barnard 



28 MATTAPOISETT 

Hymn Tune-Gilead 

The year of jubilee has come 
Here in our Mattapoisett home. 
Thanks be to God, to him give praise, 
His loving kindness brings these days. 

O hail the God of Plymouth Rock! 
For he hath blessed a little flock, 
Grown into nation and our state, 
Guided beyond the Golden Gate. 

Here on the shores of Buzzards Bay 
Our Fathers met to sing and pray, 
Children of Pilgrims and their God, — 
We follow in the path they trod. 

From out the nobler lives of old 
Came thoughts and deeds like purest gold; 
God in the heart, his truth in mind, 
Destiny glorious doth find. 

The year of jubilee speeds by, 
'Tis ours to do and then to die; 
Vows unto God we here do bring, 
O Lord of old, be still our King! 

— C. Julian Tuthill, 
Benediction 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 29 

THE OPENING SERVICE 

Congegational Church Tuesday, August 20, 1907 

At 10.30 a. m. 



PROGRAMME 
Music by Tolman's Orchestra 



Idylle Pastorale 
Melodie in P 
Serenade 

Address 



Trio — Violin, 'Cello, Organ 
Hon. Charles S. Hamlin 



Meditation 
Address 



Judge John W. Hammond 
Supreme Judicial Court, Boston 



Home Sweet Home 



Trinkaus 

Rubenstein 

Widor 



Ries 



FIELD SPORTS 

AT MATTAPOISETT SCHOOL GROUNDS 
Tuesday, August 20, at 2.30 P. M. 



TUG OF WAR — 

Hiller's Team (George R. Hiller, Perkins, Wm. 

Kinney, Benj. Kinney), defeated 
LeBaron's Team (Alfred LeBaron, Edwin Howes, 

J. Kinney, J. Peters). 
Time 1 minute. Prize $4.00 



3 MATTAPOISETT 

SHOE SCRABBLE— 



1st prize- 
2nd prize- 


-Edwin Perkins 
—Harry Henry 


$1.50 
1.00 


SACK RACE— 

1st prize- 
2nd prize- 


-Edwin Perkins 
-Geo. Bolles 


$1.50 
1.00 



1.00 



THREE-LEGGED RACE— 

1st prize — David Hiller 

and $1.50 

Lester Crampton 
2nd prize — Walter Vaughn 

and 1.00 

Raymond Winslow 

WHEELBARROW RACE — 

1st prize — George Hiller $2.00 

2nd prize — A. Skidmore 1.00 

POTATO RACE 

1st prize — Ray Winslow $2.00 

2nd prize — W. Seebell 
2nd prize — John Mendell 

EGG AND SPOON RACE — 

1st prize — Ellaine Nickerson $2.00 

2nd prize — Eva Kinney 1.00 

SPEECH BY "BRUDDER JONES" 

Henry J. Purrington 

75- YD. DASH— (Over 16 yrs). 

1st prize — George Hiller $2.00 

2nd prize — A. Skidmore 1.00 

CLIMBING GREASED POLE — 

Won by H. G. Tinkham $2.00 

RUNNING BROAD JUMP — 

Lester W. Jenney ) 

^ , -^ . y 16 ft. $3.00 

Frank Dexter J * 

75- YD. DASH — (Under 16 yrs.). 

1st prize — Harold Dunn $1.50 

2nd prize — Lester Crampton 1.00 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 31 

SHAKING THE RATTLE — 

Albert Rowland ^ 

H. G. Tinkham } $2 - 00 

Entries confined to residents of Mattapoisett. 

Addison Curtis 
Arthur C. Perchard 

Committee on Sports. 



CONCERT 

Thursday Evening, August 22, at 8 o'clock 



Mr. Thaddeus Rich, Violin 

Mr. Irving Swan Brown, 'Cello 
Mr. Carl Lamson, Piano 

Mrs. Daniel Dulany Addison, Reader 
Mr. Theodore Wood, Baritone 

Miss M. Alice Witchell, Soprano 

PROGRAMME 

Allegro from Trio for Violin, 'Cello and 

Piano — Op. 4 9 Mendelssohn 

Mr. Rich, Mr. Brown and Mr. Lamson 

The Sword of Ferrara F. F. Bullard 

Mr. Wood 
Prelude — Le Deluge Saint-Saens 

Mr. Rich 
Parla Arditti 

Miss Witchell 

Prelude Rachmaninoff 

Waltz Chopin 

Mr. Lamson 



32 



MATTAPOISETT 



Dr. Moonshine — A Comedy Mrs. Daniel Sargent Curtis 

Mrs. Addison 

(a) In some sad hour 

(b) Tick-Tack-Too F. F. Bullard 

Mr. Wood 
Mazurkas Wieniawski 

Mr. Rich 
Oh, for a Day of Spring Andrews 

Miss Witchell 

Trio — Andante Mendelssohn 

Mr. Rich, Mr. Swan, Mr. Lamson 



ORGAN RECITAL 



Universalist Church 



Saturday, August 24, 1907 
At 3 p. m. 



Mr. Edgar A. Barrell - - Organist 

Miss Gertrude W. Dexter - - Vocal Soloist 

Miss Florence F. Purrington - - Violinist 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 33 



SERMON 

BY 

REV. WILLIAM H. COBB, D. D. 

Son of Rev. Leander Cobb, of Sippican. 

Librarian Congregational House, Boston 

TEXT. 

Ecclesiastes VII. 10. 

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former 

days were better than these f for thou dost not 

inquire wisely concerning this. 

Whether the old is better than the new is a question 
sure to be raised afresh in every generation. If it 
could be decided by majority vote, there would be 
small hope for the radical side. The party of con- 
servatism holds the masses ; the party of progress has 
to fight for its footing. It was so in the days of Christ ; 
"The old is better," cried the people. It was so cen- 
turies before, w T hen our text was written by an un- 
known sage in the name of Solomon. "What is the 
reason," said someone to him, "that the former days 
were better than these?" "You are putting two ques- 
tions in one," replied the wise man. "I call for the 
previous question. Are you so sure the days of old 
were better?" But the lovers of old ways, the con- 
servatives, are not to be put down without a hearing. 
They should by no means be confounded with the pessi- 
mists, who think everything is going to the bad. The 
conservatives embrace not only the major part of man- 



34 MATTAPOISETT 

kind, but many of the wise as well. There is much 
to be said for their side of the question, and it is this 
side which we will look at first, beginning at the lowest 
point in our complex life. 

I. In what respects do former times seem better? 
On its physical side, the leading note of the present 
age is a multitude of inventions, designed to promote 
our comfort and happiness. It is very pleasant, for 
instance, to speed over the country in an electric car, 
and smile at locomotion by horse power; but yet our 
ancestors had compensations. Now and then, to be 
sure, a runaway team imperilled some one's life or 
limb; but now the newspapers tell us almost daily of 
terrible accidents on electric lines, bringing destruction 
to scores of passengers. When you reflect upon it, 
how many thousands of precious lives have already 
been offered up in sacrifice to this new Juggernaut. 
We have harnessed the lightning but it is stronger than 
we. Moreover, there is rest to be feared as well as 
motion. Were you ever stalled in an electric car, on 
a bitter cold night, because of a mere snow-drift, 
which the old-fashioned stage-coach would have floun- 
dered through merrily? Failing this, the coach would 
have returned to the nearest inn; but your modern in- 
vention will neither move forward nor backward ; wait 
for the day as patiently as you can. 

Nor is nature the only power to dread in such cases. 
The wide sweep of invention requires the co-operation 
of a great body of men ; but how if they refuse to co- 
operate? It is but a few years since that fearful ex- 
perience in Canada, when a long train of steam cars 
was abandoned at night by the whole railroad force, 
at a point deliberately chosen to inflict the utmost dis- 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 3 5 

comfort upon inoffensive passengers. That was in- 
tended to make the strike most effectual. The strike ! 
Here is an invention which our fathers knew not. Its 
evils grow with the passing years, seldom more potent 
or portentous than at the present hour. We shall 
never know the depths of misery such experiments in 
industrial methods bring in their train. 

To touch on another topic, there has been for a gen- 
eration or two a general movement away from the iso- 
lation of country life in order to secure the advantages 
of the city; but behold! the city is surrendered to or- 
ganized highwaymen, not always in the ranks of labor., 
but often in the city government itself. Oh! the for- 
mer times were better. Then the majority ruled, now 
the bosses rule. Then most people led an independent 
life on a farm or in a trade. They stood on their own 
feet, thought for themselves and said their say. In 
the good phrase of that period, they took time to make 
up their minds. Now our very thinking is done by 
machinery, and served up hot with the daily paper. 
Instead of trades, we have gigantic monopolies, heart- 
less and cruel; instead of farms we have slums. For- 
merly, the household grew up in orderly spirit around 
a father and mother who required and received sub- 
mission and honor; now, the first rule of the family 
seems to be, " Parents, obey your children." Then, 
education meant an all round development; now, it 
denotes a one-sided specialization. Few books were 
read in our grandfathers' days, but those few were di- 
gested and assimilated by frequent meditation ; whereas 
with us meditation is a lost art, quite superseded by 
the art of galloping through books as rapidly as pos- 
sible, what is imbibed today being forgotten tomorrow. 



36 MATTAPOISETT 

The social and political product most characteristic of 
our ancestors is the town meeting; the social and po- 
litical product of our age is the saloon, an institution 
unknown to our fathers ; for while it is true that they 
had the corner grocery, dispensing rum and cider, the 
saloon as an institution has been established and sanc- 
tioned by modern laws, and constitutes a political ma- 
chine of tremendous though often unsuspected power. 
Ascend now to our moral and spiritual relations. In 
early times, the line which separated the church from 
the world was distinct and sharp. A man was con- 
victed of sin, then converted to Christ. He turned his 
back on the world and joined the people of God in a 
most solemn transaction, binding himself by sacred 
vows, the breaking of which he knew would subject 
him to public discipline. In these days, a boy joins a 
young people's society and is supposed to keep his re- 
ligious pledge if he daily reads a Bible verse or two 
and utters a hurried petition or two. When he grows 
older, he graduates into the church, but by no means 
out of the world; for the world is in the church, with 
its low standards, its frivolous dissipations, its godless 
Sabbaths, its neglect of eternal concerns. This life 
is all ; the great beyond is pushed out of thought. Even 
the best of the churches are institutional, chiefly ab- 
sorbed in ministering to the wants of the present state 
of existence. Once, life was probation, an isthmus be- 
tween the oceans of the infinite past and the infinite 
future. 

"Lo, on a narrow neck of land 
'Twixt two unbounded seas I stand." 

Fifty years ago, as I remember well, we used to sing 
that grand hymn in this region, but I have not heard 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 37 

it sung for many a year. The spirit of the age, the 
Leitgeist, is out of touch with that whole class of ap- 
peals ; the entire drift of our times, church life and all, 
is secular, and intensely, increasingly so. But if the 
Psalmist was right when he exclaimed, "It is good for 
me to draw nigh unto God. Whom have I in heaven 
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire in 
comparison with thee," then it must be that the for- 
mer times of pious devotion were better than the pres- 
ent times of prevailing worldliness. 

So much at least can be said on the conservative side 
of the question before us. That there is another side 
will at once appear. 

II. The first suggestion we have for our friend who 
has been speaking for the last few minutes is that he 
enlarge his vision and gain a wider outlook. Jesus 
Christ said, ' ' The field is the world, ' ' but we have been 
looking at a small corner of our own favored land. To 
gain a broader standing ground in time as well as 
space, let us look back a hundred years instead of fifty. 
"What was the condition of the world a century ago and 
what is its condition today? That is the fair way to 
attack the problem of our text. The conservative la- 
ments, for instance, over the present desecration of the 
Christian Sabbath. Why, there was no Christian Sab- 
bath a hundred years ago, except in a little fringe of 
States along our Atlantic coast, and in the British 
Isles, and among an insignificant minority on the Con- 
tinent of Europe who resisted the infidelity that was in 
fashion then both in Europe and America. But where 
is the Sabbath now? If we could speed around the 
globe today, keeping pace with the sun in his course, 
and beginning in the far Pacific, where the mariner 



38 MATTAPOISETT 

changes his day, we should hear the Sabbath bells ring- 
ing from many an island in that ocean whose inhabi- 
tants a century ago were pagans. We should find in 
Japan an imperial edict, adopted for convenience of 
intercourse with Christian nations, making the first day 
of the week a rest day for all Japanese officials. In 
Asia and Africa, we should pass over thousands of 
worshipping congregations gathered within the cen- 
tury. In almost every country of Europe, we should 
find that dead infidelity has yielded to earnest efforts 
for Sabbath reform. And on reaching America, so ex- 
panded from those few feeble States a hundred years 
ago, the Lord's Day would greet us with its sacred 
privileges from the Gulf to the Great Lakes, from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific. Grant that the manner of its 
celebration leaves much to be desired, the very fact 
of its weekly return cries ' ' Halt ! " to the bustle of daily 
business, and brings us face to face with our Father in 
heaven. It is possible that the strict prohibitions which 
hedged the Sabbath in former times were less conducive 
to a healthy, genial type of piety than the method in 
vogue in the best homes of today, where light and love 
and liberty are the favorite watchwords. And who- 
ever asserts that the year 1907 can show, in the terri- 
tory of the old thirteen States, fewer sweet, pure, 
thoroughly Christian homes than there were in 1807, 
simply proclaims his ignorance of either the past or 
the present or both. 

Alas! what a dark, sad world the sun shone down 
upon a hundred years ago. Tyranny brooded over it; 
the rights of man were a scoffing and a by-word, linked 
indissolubly in the minds of most people with the hor- 
rors of the French Revolution. The new experiment of 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 39 

liberty in America was believed to be foredoomed to 
failure. Freedom of thought was quenched; the 
brotherhood of man was an idle dream, reserved for 
the visionaries of Utopia. 

How marvellous is the change! How Christlike is 
this bond of unity that brings men into fellowship 
though sundered by the whole diameter of the globe. 
A famine comes in India, an earthquake in California, 
a persecution in China ; with electric swiftness the thrill 
of sympathy traverses the continents; one touch of 
nature makes the whole world kin. It cannot but be 
that fellowship of the mind co-exists with sympathy 
of the heart. If our Christian faith were not designed 
for the whole race of man, if it were some peculiarly 
American or European product, we might be justified 
in trying to confine it within the shell that has come 
down from our forefathers ; we might make our own 
interpretations of its sacred truths a Procrustes bed, 
to which all others must be stretched or pruned. But 
Jesus Christ was no Occidental. His mission was to 
the Jew first and also to the Greek. All forms of 
human thought are plastic to the Spirit of Christ. It 
is our own age that has rediscovered the largeness, the 
mighty sweep of this glorious gospel. No wonder the 
men who joined the church in the early days of America 
were such marked men. There were so few of them 
that they could not but be conspicuous. They were 
fenced out by tests of doctrine that represented the 
metaphysics of theology then current, and they were 
fenced in by tests of conduct which the Savior never 
prescribed. Our doctrine, that the child in a Christian 
home should grow up a Christian, and never know him- 
self as being anything else, is better by far. The motto 



40 MATTAPOISETT 

for the church a century ago was "Come out from 
among them and be ye separate," which Paul quotes 
from the Old Testament; the motto at present is 
Christ 's own word, The kingdom of heaven is like unto 
leaven, hid in the meal till the whole was leavened. 
Then, preachers dwelt often on the picture of Christian 
and Faithful walking through Vanity Fair and stopping 
their ears; now, the great church of God, like an army 
with banners, is descending upon Vanity Fair, by its 
college settlements, by its mission schools, by its bands 
of mercy, to transform the very citadel of the enemy 
into the garden of the Lord. 

III. Our Consequent Obligations. If the pulpit 
were a debating school, the congregation a senate, 
or the preacher a lawyer, it might be profitable 
to continue this balancing of past and present. The 
conservative would still be able to strengthen his po- 
sition and the liberal to answer back. But herein lies 
the difference between a sermon and other kinds of 
public speech, that the former aims directly at the 
hearts and consciences of the hearers, persuading them 
to do something which changes the moral current of 
their lives. "Follow me," said the Master to his apos- 
tles, " and I will make you to become fishers of men." 
Every preacher sent from God is an apostle. He casts 
the gospel net, and now if any of you have been inter- 
ested in this dispute between the old and the new, you 
are caught in the net, as I proceed to show. 

There is truth on the side of the conservative. The 
evils and dangers which threaten our age are real. 
They cannot be met by turning away from them to the 
bright side, but only by mixing in the leaven persis- 
tently and constantly, until the lump is leavened. 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 41 

Well, then, who is to do this work? You and I of this 
age, or it will not be done at all. And furthermore; 
if the Christians alive at any one period will not do this, 
they lose not merely their own generation but every 
generation to come, exactly as if all life in the universe 
should stop for an instant, all life would stop forever. 
It matters not how many heroes and martyrs, saints 
and confessors, the church can boast of in the past ; if 
the people of God simply lie on their oars, I will not 
say for a generation, but for a single year ; if this year 
1907 sees them sitting at ease in Zion because they 
think the times are so much better than they used to be ; 
then the enemy will come in like a flood, the choice 
vineyard of the Lord will become a prey, the boar out 
of the wood will waste it, and the wild beast of the 
field w T ill devour it. If it be true that there is greater 
Christian progress now than ever in the past, it is be- 
cause we have a greater multitude of Christian workers, 
heartily at work, than the past ever knew. In order to 
change that truth into a falsehood, it is not necessary 
to do anything but only to stop doing. Let this great 
army of Christian workers become unchristian idlers, 
and the thing is accomplished; wickedness exults, and 
Satan's kingdom spreads over all the earth. 

My friend, you grant this readily, for you know that 
your weight will carry you down hill. A dead fish 
will float with the stream; it takes a live one to swim 
against it. I say, you grant this, but what will you do 
about it? I always delight to take a speculative ques- 
tion and change it into a practical duty. When a 
man asks, "Do you believe the heathen will be lost?" 
1 am apt to reply, "No, not if you and I save them; 
what are you doing to give them the gospel?" When a 



42 MATTAPOISETT 

man says, "God's will is sure to be clone anyway; so 
what is the use of my praying ? " I answer ; ' ' God 's will 
will not be done by you, if you disobey him when he 
commands you to pray. ' ' 

Now in the case before us ; if you had a million dol- 
lars, you think you would spend it in doing good ; you 
think you would accomplish a vast amount; but that 
is a mere matter of speculation. The only way to 
learn whether it is true is to observe what good you 
do with the little you already have. Jesus said : ' ' Where 
your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The 
problem before us is a very simple one; to improve 
upon the progress of the past by taking hold unitedly 
of the duties next at hand and discharging them in the 
spirit of Nehemiah's builders, of whom it was written: 
"Every man builded over against his own house." 
"The people had a mind to work." 

God has endowed each of you with talents, one or 
two or ten, and for all these things you shall give 
account at the day of judgment. The recent history 
of the church is rich in examples worthy of our emula- 
tion. It may be that God calls some one of this com- 
pany to go far hence unto the Gentiles, and preach the 
unsearchable riches of Christ. There was David Liv- 
ingston, who took his life in his hand, and finally laid 
it down, in the patient endeavor to deliver Africa from 
the slave trade, which he called the open sore of the 
world. He fell at his post, but henceforth there is laid 
up for him a crown of righteousness. 

It may be that God calls some woman in this company 
to go far hence and minister to the sick and the dying. 
There was Florence Nightingale, risking her life and 
wrecking her health in the Crimea, yet gaining a sure 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 43 

foundation for sanitary science whereby the lives of 
uncounted multitudes have been saved, besides those 
whom she reached directly. Within the last genera- 
tion, thousands of women from cherished homes at the 
North have gone down into our Southern States to 
labor at the long hard task of counteracting the mass 
of ignorance and superstition which slavery left as a 
legacy to our land. They have suffered obloquy, ostra- 
cism and persecution ; but none of these things moved 
them; and the promise is theirs; "The teachers shall 
shine as the firmament and they that turn many to 
righteousness as the stars forever and ever." It may 
be that for most of us the path of service is so humble 
that few will ever hear our names or note our efforts. 
Still, let us be of good cheer. 

"Go, labor on; enough while here, 
If He shall praise thee, if He deign 
Thy willing heart to mark and cheer: — ■ 
No toil for him shall be in vain." 

Let us consider fourthly and finally, 

IV. Our Inspiring Hopes. If we believed it to 
be a religious duty to march in procession once a 
week to the seaside each one of us to cast into the 
waves a sum of money, I doubt not we should 
discharge the duty religiously like the Hindoos. But 
how much better it is to serve a Master who gra- 
ciously takes us into partnership and shows us what 
becomes of our money. And not of our money alone, 
but of our time, our toil ; everything which we dedicate 
to him. In the whole history of the past, there never 
was so hopeful, so inspiring a prospect before the peo- 
ple of God as the outlook which this twentieth century 
affords. Required, the salvation of the world; given. 



44 MATTAPOISETT 

a consecrated church; the problem is solved, for God 
puts himself into it and his name is Almighty. The 
former days better than these? Nay, thou dost not 
inquire wisely concerning this. We sail out into the 
coming age in the enthusiasm of a spirit fit to conquer 
the world, and under a leader whose name is Victor. 
No need to pray for miracles; there is latent power 
enough in the Christian church of today to conquer the 
world for Christ. Consider how our Prince Immanuel 
is marshalling the hosts of his kingdom. As the stars 
in their courses fought against Sisera, so the forces of 
Nature are held by our Redeemer in the hollow of his 
hand. I have only alluded to the power of the Chris- 
tian home. It is a significant and a striking fact that 
whereas a wicked household tends to self-extinction in 
a few generations, it is the law of the holy seed to per- 
petuate itself from age to age. Some of you may have 
read that terrible book, "The Jokes," which consists 
mainly of the bare statistics of the descendants of a 
single criminal ; the genealogy of a vicious stock, vigor- 
ous at first and extensively propagated, but dwindling 
soon into disease and feebleness and at length perishing 
utterly. Contrast the descendants of that great Amer- 
ican, Jonathan Edwards, whose memory has lately 
been honored by a tablet in the very church in North- 
ampton that once drove him forth into the wilderness. 
Edwards feared God, loved him and served him; and 
already a mighty host have sprung from his loins of 
men and women who walk in his steps and who are 
respected by all that know them. "What is true in a 
signal degree of the Edwards family has been wit- 
nessed often upon a smaller scale. In view of the 
special occasion which calls us together, it may not 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 45 

be amiss to remark that the published diary of one of 
your former pastors, Dr. Thomas Robbins, makes fre- 
quent mention of his next neighbor in the ministry, 
Oliver Cobb, for fifty years pastor in our mother town 
of Rochester. Out of a large body of his descendants, 
including now the third and fourth and even the fifth 
generation, it is safe to assert that the great majority 
have been consecrated to a life of Christian service. 
The Lord hath remembered his covenant forever, the 
word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 
That declaration of the Psalmist throws light upon a 
striking contrast in the second of the ten command- 
ments. God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon 
the children unto the third and fourth generation; but 
he shows mercy unto thousands, that is, thousands of 
generations of them that love him and keep his com- 
mandments. One of BushneH's great sermons, in 
his Christian Nurture is entitled "The Out-populating 
Power of the Christian Stock. ' ' Following this thought, 
the eye of faith looks down the vista of the coming 
ages and beholds the growth of Christianity under the 
Divine power of the Holy Spirit penetrating the human 
race, ever more deeply diffusing itself, ever more wide- 
ly until the mustard seed becomes a great tree, until 
the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters 
cover the sea. 

Our inspiring hopes for the future are not confined 
to the normal growth of grace in the family training of 
Christian homes. There is to be added the entire force 
of voluntary and associated effort, acting upon the world 
without. Take, for example, the glorious propaganda of 
missions at home and abroad; not a spasmodic crusade 
of enthusiasm, but a vast and systematic advance over 



46 MATTAPOISETT 

the whole field — which is the world. A few years ago, 
there gathered in New York city the greatest religious 
congress of the age, the Ecumenical Missionary Con- 
ference. The Christian who would fire his soul with 
the loftiest hopes built on the soundest convictions, 
should read the story of that assembly, and learn how 
nation after nation is being leavened by the sweet 
persuasive power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The 
shock of arms may only rouse the worst passions of 
men and make their opposition fiercer; but the human 
heart was not made to resist the persistent battery of a 
love that will spend and be spent, that will lay down 
its life for those whom it delights to call brethren. 
Moreover, some of the most efficient agencies for prop- 
agating the kingdom of Christ do not wear the mission- 
ary badge. Such are the Sunday Schools and the 
Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tions, all of comparatively recent origin. And I for 
one confess to an admiration of world wide Christian 
Endeavor, a noble army of children and youth before 
whose faith the hoary walls of Jericho shall fall down. 
What though there be within the order not a little 
superficiality and zeal without knowledge? Is not the 
same true of the church at large? Let us thank God 
for the hearty devotion, the catholic unity, the fervent 
spirit of these millions who love our Lord Jesus Christ 
and are trying daily to do what he would have them 
do. 

And now we shall come far short of the inspiring 
hopes set before us in the gospel if we limit our fore- 
cast to this mortal stage of existence. The Christian's 
best things are to come; in that life which the apostle 
Paul struggled to express in words that our English 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 47 

Bible gives inadequately thus: "a far more exceeding 
and eternal weight of glory." The ancients looked 
back for their golden age ; no wonder their life was so 
often dreary. But our citizenship is from heaven. 
The King of Love our Shepherd is. Behold, he maketh 
all things new. He has gone to prepare a place for us. 
He will come again and receive us unto himself. It 
doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know 
that when he shall appear we shall be like him. The 
ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and 
everlasting joy upon their heads ; they shall obtain joy 
and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such 
things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him with- 
out spot and blameless. And the glory shall be to the 
Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost ; as it was 
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world 
without end. Amen. 




HON. JOHN WILKES HAMMOND 



ADDRESS 

BY 

HON. JOHN WILKES HAMMOND 

OF CAMBRIDGE 

Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court 
of Massachusetts 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : — 

We have many holidays in the course of the year, but 
to a person of New England birth, education or en- 
vironment, the dearest of them all is Thanksgiving 
Day. The day does not, it is true, commemorate any 
important event of our political history as do the 
fourth of July, and the nineteenth of April, nor any 
great crisis in the history of Christianity as does 
Christmas as now celebrated. Nor is it the day when 
presents and kindly greetings are exchanged, as on 
Christmas and New Tear's day. And although it had 
its origin in the thankfulness of the pilgrims at 
Plymouth for the abundant harvest gathered at the 
end of their first season in 1621, still its celebration is 
not now tinctured with the peculiar religious fervor 
of the early times. And yet amid all the changes in the 
political and religious life of our people, the day keeps 
its hold upon our hearts, and it does so because it is 
the domestic holiday. It is the day above all others 
to which the home lovers look forward. It is the day 



50 MATTAPOISETT 

when those who have been absent, once more return 
to give the filial greeting to revered parents, and when 
all the members of the family from the oldest to the 
youngest gather in sweet communion around the an- 
cestral hearth and partake of the bounteously laden 
ancestral table. No matter how inclement the weather, 
all is joy within ; and the joy seems all the greater by 
reason of the contrast with the storm raging without. 

In a similar spirit and with similar emotions we are 
assembled on this our municipal, or town, Thanksgiv- 
ing Day. Although for a century and three quarters 
Mattapoisett was in existence as a part of Rochester, 
and since then has been for a half of a century a town 
"on its own hook," yet we have never had such a 
holiday. We have, however, seen the error of our ways, 
and in this respect we intend to make amends. "We 
propose to enjoy ourselves, (at least after this ad- 
dress is delivered) to cherish and honor the memory 
of those who are gone, to renew our friendship with 
those still here, and in this way to be led to a greater 
love of the town and all for which it stands. 

It is usual upon occasions like this for the speaker 
to spend much time in relating the history of the 
town, but fortunately I am relieved from this work. 
As one of the features of this week's celebration there 
has been prepared an extended history of Rochester, 
and of Mattapoisett both before and after its incor- 
poration as a separate town. 

I have had an opportunity to see the advance sheets 
of this work. It is a very creditable work, — much 
above the ordinary town history in point of ability. 
It will be the most enduring feature of this celebra- 
tion, and if old home week had produced nothing else 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 51 

than this book it would clearly justify itself. I shall 
have occasion to allude to some of the events men- 
tioned in the book, but as I have just said, shall re- 
frain from any extended historical narrative. Nor is 
this an occasion for the discussion of any prominent 
political, theological, or economic question. I con- 
ceive that under the circumstances I shall best per- 
form the part allotted to me in this week's exercises, 
if I attempt to give you some glimpses of the town 
and of the life and character of its inhabitants at 
certain epochs in the town's history. 

We are proud of the permanent features of our 
home as made by nature. The fertile soil, the babbling 
stream periodically filled with its myriads of fishes, 
the harbor and the bay with the cool summer breezes 
are here, and here they will remain. It is interesting 
to note the conditions existing when in 1680 the little 
band of colonists came to settle around the herring 
river. Prior to that time, various grants of land sit- 
uated in Rochester had been made, but for some reason 
or other no settlement had been made, although it 
may be that some shelters had been put up and oc- 
cupied temporarily by the herders of cattle. 

In 1680 however settlements were begun. The town 
was then covered with wood except in places where 
the Indian maize had been cultivated. The woods 
abounded in foxes, wild cats, and many other small 
animals. The war with King Philip was ended, and 
there was no reason to apprehend trouble from the 
Indians. From a pioneer's point of view the prospect 
was good; and the hardy settlers came. As we look 
back it seems a very long time ago, but it was not. 
Queen Elizabeth, during whose reign Bacon, Shakes- 



52 MATTAPOISETT 

peare and other shining lights of English statesmanship 
and literature had lived, had been dead three quarters 
of a century, and three score years had elapsed since 
the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth. Wilson Bar- 
stow, for many years a prominent ship builder in this 
village, who lived to be over ninety years old and who 
died in 1891, must have known persons who had seen 
and talked with some of these original settlers. The 
time seems long not because of the passage of many 
years, but because of the great changes which have 
since taken place. 

The settlers came to a wilderness. We may be 
sure they had enough to do, and we may be equally 
sure that they resolutely set about to do it. I have often 
thought how interesting would be a vivid and detailed 
account of the daily life of an early New England 
settler like those who first came here. What time did 
he get up in the morning, and what kind of a bed 
had he been occupying and where did he get it? How 
did he know what time it was? What kind of clothes 
did he and the other members of the family respective- 
ly put on, and how were they procured? Were his 
boots ever blacked, if so how? How was the morning 
fire lighted in the fireplace, how was the breakfast 
cooked, of what did it consist, either food or drink, 
and how was it cooked and how served, with what 
implements did he carry it to his mouth? What were 
the dishes and where did he get them? What other 
furniture was in the house ; and was the table a simple 
narrow bench, and were the family ranged along upon 
rough boards as sometimes now is done at picnic 
gatherings? What was the nature of the implements 
he used in clearing the woods and tilling the soil and 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 53 

where did he get them and how could he get the money 
with which to pay for them? Could he afford an 
overcoat f In a cloudy day when the sun did not shine 
how could his wife tell when to get dinner, and how 
could he tell when to come and eat it? and so on. 
And when the day's work was over and evening came, 
how was the house lighted; and did the family retire 
early, or did they sit up around some blazing fire or 
light ; and if they sat up was it that they might work ; 
did they work in the long evenings, if so what work 
did they do? Did the settlers have any recreations, 
if so what were they? How did the young people 
amuse themselves, for they certainly must have played ? 
Youth will smile and play, whatever be the circum- 
stances. Did the women have "sewing bees" in those 
days, if they did was the conversation upon religion, 
or upon current topics after the manner of a current 
topic club of the present day? These and a thousand 
other questions arise as one contemplates the life of 
the early settlers. More than seventy years ago Rufus 
Choate, in an address to an Essex County organization, 
said that the best way to give the people a vivid idea 
of those matters was by way of novels which should 
be true to the subject in all the essential details; and 
in his characteristically extravagant way he sug- 
gested that a thousand of them more or less were need- 
ed for that purpose. Some have since been published, 
but more are needed. 

We know at least that the life of these settlers was 
busy and laborious. Children came frequently, families 
were large, the domestic duties of the wife were ex- 
acting and continuous, and at forty she looked worn 
and weary. Sometimes the settler was so busy that 



54 MATTAPOISETT 

he had but little time for preliminaries, and made his 
wishes known in a brusque manner. An instance of this 
has come down traditionally to us and is related in the 
town history in this way : — ' ' Old Deacon Barlow, one 
of the first proprietors to lay out land, was famous 
in his day as a deacon, pillar of the church and leader 
in society. It is said that when the wife of Deacon 
Barlow died, he mourned her with due propriety for a 
year and a day. Then mounting his horse, he rode to 
the house of a maiden lady, and having knocked with 
his cane without dismounting, he greeted her with 
'Good morning, I am in pursuit of a wife; if you will 
have me, I will come in, if not, I shall go farther.' 
'Why Deacon,' was the reply, 'How you astonish me; 
Thank you, you had better come in. ' A few days later 
there was a wedding, and the deacon took his new wife 
home on a pillion behind him." Such were the men, 
and such the women of the time. 

Under it all and through it all there was a strong re- 
ligious current. They lived not for this life alone, 
but for another and a better. Their faith was un- 
faltering and they were cheered and sustained by it. 
They believed the Bible was the word of God, and 
they read it as such. I have not the time to sketch 
in detail their religious history. You will find it well 
set forth in the book to which I have alluded, and I 
commend it to your careful consideration. A few 
words on that subject must answer. The whole of 
Rochester for many years was comprised in one pre- 
cinct, the people first worshipping at Sippican and 
afterwards at the centre of the town, the church ed- 
ifice being nearly if not quite five miles from the early 
settlers of Mattapoisett. Thus things continued until 



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SEMI-CENTENNIAL 55 

1733 when the people of Mattapoisett complained that 
they were too remote from the centre to attend church 
there, and asked to be set off as a separate parish. 
"The matter was delayed for a while, during which an 
effort was made to have Mattapoisett incorporated as 
a separate town. But this did not meet the general 
wishes of the people and in 1735 (more than fifty years 
after the first settlers came here) the Second Precinct 
of Rochester was set off," and in 1736, having ob- 
tained a letter of dismissal from the church at the 
"Centre," the Mattapoisett people formed a new 
church, and built a small meeting house about 25 feet 
square in what is now called Hammondtown ; and, after 
some experience in hearing other preachers, finally in 
1740 settled the Rev. Ivory Hovey as their first pastor. 
He was a graduate of Harvard and at the time of his 
installation was twenty-six years old, recently married, 
and is described as "of slight physique and of studious 
and serious mind." 

There is in the Athenaeum in Boston a sermon which 
was delivered by this clergyman in 1749, he being then 
35 years of age. It was delivered at the funeral of 
John Hammond, one of the settlers of 1680, who died 
in his 86th. year. He was for many years prominent 
in the civil and military affairs of the town ; and I think 
I can give you no better idea of the religious atmos- 
phere of the time and of the nature of the sermons 
then preached then to give a synopsis of this one. Its 
title is "Duty & Privilege of Ancient saints to leave 
their dying testimony behind them to posterity. A ser- 
mon occasioned by the death of Lieut. John Hammond 
of Rochester." 

It seems that Mr. Hammond, a few months before his 



56 MATTAPOISETT 

death, had called his children together to give them 
some spiritual advice which was afterwards embodied 
in this sermon ; and for that reason his children caused 
the sermon to be published. 

The text, which was evidently selected with care and 
was apt, is found in Psalm 71. Verse 18. "Now also 
when I am old and gray headed, God, forsake me 
not, until I have showed thy strength unto this genera- 
tion and thy power to every one that is to come." 

The very first sentence contains the key note of the 
sermon which is strongly tinctured with the gloomy 
theology of the time. It reads as follows : — ' ' There can 
scarcely be a more pleasing sight under Heaven than to 
see an aged saint with the Almond tree flourishing, that 
has begun early in the service of God, even to trust him 
from his youth and still in the strength going on put- 
ting his entire confidence in the same Almighty God 
in advanced years and breathing out this earnest wish 
$ desire into the bosom of his God, not to cast him 
off in the time of old age nor forsake him until he has 
showed abroad the wondrous acts of the Lord," etc. 
After a few more sentences in this vein the preacher 
announces the doctrinal truth of the sermon in these 
words: "That it well becomes an aged saint especially 
to desire the continuance of his life and God's further 
assisting grace with him for this end principally, that 
he may make known the Lord to the present and suc- 
ceeding generations, 

OR THIS 

That it well becomes an aged disciple of the Lord Jesus, 
& will be the property of all such who have walked 
with God in their youth to seek earnestly the Commun- 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 57 

ion and special presence of the same God with them 
to their lives' end, that they may be enabled to leave 
their dying testimony behind them from God to their 
posterity. ' ' 

He then proceeds thus, "For the clearing of this 
doctrine I would endeavor by divine assistance, first to 
explain it, second to confirm it, and lastly to improve 
it." Under the first head he has two sub-divisions, un- 
der the second head four, and under the third head 
three, of which the third is further subdivided into two 
parts, making in all eleven divisions. After spending 
considerable time in thus developing the doctrinal truth, 
he proceeds to address the aged widow (who was the 
daughter of the Rev. Samuel Arnold the first minister 
of Rochester) in these words : "As to you, his aged con- 
sort in particular, who was best of all acquainted with 
him & to whom he was a very tender & kind 
husband, however he might bear some resemblance to 
Eli as for a hasty temper, yet I doubt not but you are 
a witness that he likewise resembled him and some 
other saints in some of their virtues, especially as he 
grew towards the evening of his life; particularly in 
the graces of humility, meekness, self denial & 
patience which he seemed to be most sensible of being 
defective in according to his aforesaid constitutional 
infirmity, which occasioned him often to pray hard for 
patience & others' prayers that patience might have 
its perfect work in him, which prayer seemed remark- 
ably answered on his behalf before his departure as you 
madam can't but be very sensible of." 

Who cannot see in these lines the picture of the grand 
old man, naturally quick tempered and fully aware of 
that fact, striving under the trials incidental to the 



58 MATTAPOISETT 

infirmities of old age to conquer himself and by the 
divine assistance to be patient to the end. Of such fibre 
were such men made. 

After still further words directed to the aged widow, 
the speaker proceeds at considerable length to repeat 
in detail the advice the deceased had given to his 
children, making extensive comments thereon, and 
directly addressing the children in a manner similar to 
that in which he had addressed the widow. 

The sermon consists of thirty-three closely printed 
pages, and must have occupied more than an hour and a 
half in its delivery. It is a typical specimen of the 
pulpit production of the time. 

I can dwell no longer upon these early settlers. They 
were chiefly engaged in agriculture pursuits, and were 
an industrious and God-fearing people. 

Less than a century after the settlement, the troubles 
began between the colony and the mother country 
which finally resulted in the Revolution and our in- 
dependence. Rochester did its full part in these events. 
As indicating their spirit I will cite two or three votes 
passed by the people in town meeting assembled. 

In 1768, suspecting one of their representatives of 
holding Tory sentiments, the town voted as follows: 
"That if our representative or any other person in this 
town that either has or shall hereafter basely desert 
the cause of liberty for the sake of being promoted to 
a post of honor or profit or for any other mean view 
to self interest shall be looked upon as an enemy to 
his country & be treated with that neglect & con- 
tempt that he justly deserves." It is needless to say 
that the representative was not re-elected. 

In 1773 a letter was received from Boston asking the 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 59 

advice of the towns as to what was to be done on the 
tea question. A spirited town meeting was held. En- 
ergetic resolutions were passed, and "the citizens sub- 
scribed a solemn league and covenant to abstain from 
the use of tea, and to transact no business with those 
who will not become parties to the covenant." This is 
pretty close to a boycott, and so far as I know is the 
first example of a provision for a "closed shop" to be 
found in the records of the town. 

The news of the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, 
was received with joy since it indicated that the 
struggle for independence was really begun. On May 
23, 1776, it was voted, "That when the honorable con- 
gress shall think best to declare themselves independent 
of the kingdom of Great Britain we will defend them 
with our lives & fortunes." 

When army reverses had brought a feeling of de- 
pression and it was necessary to suppress any opposi- 
tion to the war, a committee of inspectors was formed 
to call to account those who uttered Tory sentiments. 
One of those with whom they dealt had said that "He 
wished the people of Rochester were in hell for their 
treatment of Ruggles & Sprague," but on his expressing 
repentance he was duly forgiven. 

When the paper money which had been issued by 
the government to meet the expenses of the war had 
become greatly depreciated, the town on May 26, 1779, 
after certain resolves relating "to efforts to appreciate 
the currency" had been passed, voted that "Whoever 
shall directly or indirectly violate either of said resolves 
made for this important purpose shall be deemed in- 
famous and held up to view as an enemy to the in- 
dependence, freedom & happiness of his country by 



60 MATTAPOISETT 

publishing his name in the newspapers published in this 
state, after which publication it shall be disrespectful 
in any good citizen to maintain either social or com- 
mercial connections with a wretch so lost to all public 
virtue as wantonly to sacrifice the interest of his coun- 
try to the acquisition of a little paltry gain. ' ' This was a 
boycott with a vengeance. They did not stop with resolu- 
tions. Early, and during the whole existence of the war 
Rochester did its full part, and Mattapoisett as a part 
of Rochester, in furnishing and equipping its due quota 
of fighting men. 

As early as 1750 and perhaps before that time they 
began to build vessels. It is stated by Wilson Barstow, 
whom I have previously mentioned, that there was no 
science, vessels being built "by the sight of the eye 
and good judgment. ' ' There was no preliminary draft- 
ing and there were no models. Queer results were 
sometimes produced by this method. Mr. Barstow 
states that "one Hastings was put in a towering pas- 
sion by being told that his starboard bow was all on one 
side; and one sloop was nicknamed 'Bowline' because 
she was crooked." It is further said that "the old 
whaler Trident of 488 tons built in 1828, was so much 
out of true that she carried 150 barrels more on one 
side of the keel than on the other. The sailors said 
she was ' logey on one tack but sailed like the mischief 
on the other.' " Of course in due time all this was 
corrected and vessels were built upon a scientific model. 

Soon after the close of the Revolutionary "War the 
village of Mattapoisett was started, and in 1815 there 
was at Mattapoisett harbor, a thriving village consisting 
of "perhaps 40 houses, 3 or 4 wharves, a rope walk and 
ship yards where in 1811 upwards of 3,000 tons of 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 61 

shipping, were constructed." There was a coasting 
trade between the town and Nantucket, Newport, New 
York and places farther south. 

The building of ships continued for many years, and 
that business and whaling constituted the chief in- 
dustries of the town. Notice, however, must be taken 
of the manufacture of salt. During the Revolution, salt 
had been in great demand, and some was obtained along 
the shore of Buzzard's Bay by the process of boiling 
sea water. In 1806 a more important salt industry was 
established in Rochester as well as in the neighboring 
towns. The direct cause of this was the Embargo Act 
shutting out the salt from the West Indies, which had 
been the chief source of supply. Abraham Holmes, 
writing in 1821, says, "The principal manufacture of 
this town is salt. This business is carried on on an ex- 
tensive scale, and it is believed that more salt is manu- 
factured in this town than in any other town in the 
Commonwealth; and it is the most productive of any 
business here practiced." 

The water was pumped from the sea by windmills 
and carried through the pipes (or tunnelled logs) to 
shallow vats 12 or 15 feet square, from which the water 
was evaporated by sun exposure, being carried from 
vat to vat at different stages of the process. There was 
a salt house to receive the completed product, and at 
night and in rainy weather great covers or roofs moved 
by heavy crane beams were placed over the vats to 
protect the drying salt. One crane usually moved the 
roof of four of these vats. I well remember salt works 
of this description existing when I was a boy, on Good- 
speed's Island. They were managed by Mr. Jabez 
Goodspeed, and I have often seen him, when a tempest 



62 MATTAPOISETT 

threatened, hurry over to the island to cover the vats 
so as to protect the salt from the rain. 

The town of Rochester, especially the villages of 
Mattapoisett and Marion, continued to flourish, but 
there was a cloud upon the horizon. These two vil- 
lages were at considerable distance from the town 
house located at Rochester Centre; and it was a great 
inconvenience for their inhabitants to go to the Centre 
to vote and transact town affairs ; and the interests of 
these villages were in many respects different from 
those of the mother town. The birth throes of Matta- 
poisett were severe and prolonged. They began in 
1837 and lasted twenty years. The account of the 
events which led to the final separation, as given in 
the book which I have named, is exceedingly interest- 
ing. The sixteenth article of the town meeting of 
March 6, 1837 was as follows, "To decide if the town 
will hold their town meetings in Mattapoisett village 
for the term of one year from the twentieth of March, 
1837." On this article it was voted after an exciting 
contest that "When this meeting be adjourned it be 
adjourned to the First Christian Meeting House in 
Mattapoisett village, and that all the town meetings 
be held in the village of Mattapoisett for one year from 
the 20th day of March, 1837." "Mr. James Ruggles 
of Rochester Centre then arose and gave notice that 
he protested against the vote in regard to holding town 
meetings in the village of Mattapoisett and should call 
for a reconsideration of that vote at the adjournment 
of this meeting." The adjourned meeting was held 
April 3, 1837, in the First Christian Meeting House of 
Mattapoisett, and was the first town meeting ever held 
in the confines of Mattapoisett. At the meeting the 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 63 

Rev. Thomas Bobbins offered prayer; and after a 
spirited contest it was found that the vote to reconsider 
was carried by three majority, the vote in favor being 
299, that opposed 296. The method of taking the vote 
was peculiar. All those that were in favor of recon- 
sidering the vote formed a line on the north side of the 
street, and those opposed on the south side. Certain- 
ly a picturesque way of taking a vote at a town meet- 
ing. But the redoubtable Captain Atsatt of Matta- 
poisett was equal to the occasion ; he rose and gave 
notice that at the adjournment of this meeting he 
should call for a reconsideration of this last vote. The 
meeting was adjourned till April 17th. Dr. Robbins 
states in his diary that although he attended this meet- 
ing he did not vote. It seemed to him "an unpleasant 
affair." On April 17th, the day to which the meeting 
had been adjourned, Captain Atsatt made his motion 
for reconsideration and for adjournment to Matta- 
poisett. The vote was taken by yea and nay. Each 
side was out in full force, and crackers and cheese were 
provided for the voters. The house was so crowded 
the vote could not be taken there, and, after various 
attempts had failed, the doors were shut upon the 
older men within the house whose ballots were then 
taken as they came out through the door; while the 
younger men were sent through the bars into Mr. 
Bonney's field and the votes taken as they came out. 
The motion was lost, 278 yeas to 324 nays. At this 
meeting Rev. Dr. Robbins voted, the only time he had 
ever voted in town meeting since his settlement. This 
meeting was further adjourned to April 24th at one 
P. M. "When the day came," writes Mr. Holmes, 
"before nine o'clock a northeast storm (very cold) 



64 MATTAPOISETT 

commenced, which increased in its fury and by noon 
was pretty violent. Very few people from the North- 
west part of the town attended, but the people of 
Mattapoisett had a considerable turnout." Captain 
Atsatt, still persistent, was again on hand and made a 
motion, which was seconded by Elijah Willis, "to ad- 
journ this meeting to the Rev. Thos. Robbing's meet- 
ing house in the village of Mattapoisett, Wednesday, 
the 26th day of April, at one o'clock P. M." The vote 
passed by 139 to 137. Mattapoisett was again upper- 
most, and the meeting was finally held at Mattapoisett. 

There is not time for me to enter into this matter 
in further detail. Suffice it to say that after various 
contests it finally became evident to all that there 
should be a division; and at a town meeting held 
early in 1857 a vote for this division was unanimous. 
Committees were appointed to arrange details as to 
the division of town property, etc. ; and on May 20, 
1857, the act of incorporation was passed by the legis- 
lature. 

The new town of Mattapoisett then contained about 
1,700 inhabitants. Its chief industries of shipbuilding 
and whaling were perhaps then at their zenith. Many 
of the young men of the village entered with zest into 
the business of whaling and became skillful ship- 
masters. Those who engaged in this were away from 
home the greater part of the time, the voyages lasting 
from a year, more or less, to three or four years. 
Their stay at home between voyages was generally 
from two to four months in the summer. I remember 
hearing a woman, who had been married for more than 
twenty-five years to a well-known ship-master, say 
that her husband had been away from home so much 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 65 

of the time that she scarcely felt acquainted with him. 

It was a dangerous business. The whales were killed 
by harpoons and lances thrown from the hands of men 
in boats. Many an evening when a boy have I listened 
to the tales of these men — of the manner in which the 
whale was first sighted by the man on the lookout on 
the mast — of the hurried preparation for the manning 
and starting of the boats, of which there were from two 
to four according to the number of the crew — of the 
long pull, sometimes in a boisterous sea, to reach the 
Leviathan — of the hush in the boat as they came near the 
whale — of the anxious moment when he who held the 
harpoon was to throw it — of the sudden plunge of the 
animal as he felt the iron enter his side — of the impera- 
tive order to "stern all," given to avoid injury from 
any violent movement of the whale — of the rapidity 
with which the line attached to the harpoon passed 
out from the tub where in the middle of the boat it was 
neatty coiled — of the careful manner of slowing the 
line as it went out — of the attempt to reach the whale 
again as he rose to the surface — of the skillful way 
in which the boat was again placed alongside of the 
whale and of the deep reaching thrusts given by the 
lance in the hands of the boatheader — of the circular 
death flurry growing gradually more and more feeble 
— the reddening of the water from the outpouring 
blood — and finally the death of the animal as he at 
last turned over upon his back. 

Upon the stones in our village graveyard may be 
read records of the dangers incurred by these hardy 
followers of the sea. Of my mother's five brothers 
three lost their lives in this business — two, both in the 
same vessel, by the foundering of their ship, and one 



66 MATTAPOISETT 

by being caught in the line as the whale was dragging 
it from the boat. Subsequently whales were shot by 
a gun, greatly diminishing the danger. 

Shortly after the incorporation of the town, this 
business began to diminish and has been for several 
years entirely discontinued in Mattapoisett. 

The shipbuilding filled the village with a very supe- 
rior class of workmen. In the busiest period nearly 
three hundred men were employed; and at the noon 
hour the streets were filled with them as they went 
home for dinner. Each man was entitled to the chips 
which he hewed from the timber, and many a workman 
on his way home trundled before him a well-filled 
wheelbarrow. But this industry has also disappeared, 
and with it has disappeared the noble mechanics who 
were nurtured in it. The last vessel was built in 1878. 

There were no summer vacations. The people kept 
at home from one year's end to another. The young 
men generally became ship carpenters or sailors. The 
young women stayed at home; and the young of both 
sexes found their amusements in their native village. 
Although I was born in this village and lived here 
until at the age of nineteen I went away to school, and 
although I spent my vacations here and cast my first vote 
here, I never saw the village of Sippican, now Marion, 
until I was more than forty years old. There was but 
little card playing as I remember. My first card play- 
ing was clandestine, under an upturned whaleboat 
which had been beached for the winter. 

There were three churches — the Congregational the 
one in which we now are, the Universalist and the 
Baptist. Every Sunday there were preached in each 
church two sermons, one in the forenoon and one in 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 67 

the afternoon ; and, with the exception of the Universal- 
ist church, there was also a meeting in the evening at 
which the pastor usually made a short address. Each 
church had a flourishing Sabbath school. There was 
little, if any, social caste. Everybody knew everybody 
else and was quite closely watched by everybody else, — 
a state of things quite conducive to upright living. 

Much cannot be said in favor of the public schools 
as they existed in the village. Provision was made for 
only three months for each child. The children under 
ten years of age attended the summer school, and those 
of ten and upwards the winter school. When the first 
public winter school I ever attended was opened, I was 
about two weeks short of ten years of age, and I well 
remember the trepidation with which I appeared the 
first day. I feared I should not be admitted, but the 
district school committee man and the teacher after 
some conference together concluded that I "would do." 
As a rule there was a different teacher for each term, — 
a man, often some college undergraduate, in the winter, 
and a woman in the summer. Corporal punishment 
was frequently resorted to, although I do not recall 
any severe case. The school rooms, often small, were 
heated with stoves; there was no ventilation, and the 
small children who sat in the front seats suffered much 
from the heat. The village proper was divided into 
two districts, the east and the west; and in the winter 
time, when there was snow upon the ground fit for 
snowballs, many a royal battle occurred between the 
two schools; and woe be to the pupil of either school 
if during snowballing time he was espied within the 
territorial limits of the other. 

The public schools were supplemented by private 



68 MATTAPOISETT 

schools at which a small tuition fee was charged. 
There was generally such a school every summer which 
pupils too old for the public schools could attend. 
Many of these schools were very good. About 1856 
the academy was opened, to which came pupils not 
only from the village and the other parts of the town, 
but also from the neighboring towns. The higher 
studies were taught here, and by this school several 
persons were fitted for college. 

In an address on Mattapoisett, no one can omit to 
speak of the alewives of Mattapoisett river. From the 
time of the earliest settlers to the present day they have 
contributed to the wealth of the people. The people of 
the colonial and provincial periods of Massachusetts 
appreciated the food value of alewives, and many laws 
were passed for the protection of the alewife fisheries 
wherever existing, especially on streams where there 
were milldams. Mattapoisett River received its full 
share of attention. The early Plymouth Colony laws 
were liberal in the count, for it was provided in 1637 
that "six score and twelve fishes shall be accounted to 
the hundred of all sorts of fishes." The earliest law 
I have found especially applicable to Mattapoisett River 
was passed in November 1770. The preamble is as 
follows : 

"Whereas the town of Rochester have been at great 
labor and expense in digging out a passage from Snip- 
tuet Pond to the head of 'Madepaysett' River in said 
town, in order to let the alewives have free course from 
the sea into said pond to cast their spawn ; and whereas 
the good fruit of their labors and expense depends on 
the regulation and government of the stream through 
which they pass, and there being sundry milldams 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 69 

across said river, and by reason of many evilminded 
and disorderly persons setting up weirs, stopping & 
obstructing sd alewives, the expectation & benefit of 
their labors have almost been defeated; for remedy 
whereof be it enacted, &c. " This act was followed by 
several others and there were at least six statutes 
passed after the establishment of the state constitution, 
of which the first was passed in 1788. There is not 
time to review these acts in detail. It is sufficient to 
say that they provide for the free passage of the fish, 
for the times in which fish may be taken and by whom ; 
for the choice in open town meeting of herring inspec- 
tors who shall take an oath to "prosecute all breaches 
of the law regulating the alewif e fishery in said river ' ' ; 
and for the sale and distribution of the fish, and for the 
prosecution of persons who shall unlawfully catch them 
or obstruct their passage. The right to these fish has 
always been greatly prized, even to an extent which 
may seem inexplicable to a person who has not been 
reared in the town. The statute of 1852 setting off 
Sippican and incorporating it under the name of Marion 
contains a provision, although no part of Mattapoisett 
River flowed through the new town, "that the alewif e 
fisheries of the river and the town mills on the river 
should remain the property and privilege of all the in- 
habitants of said towns of Rochester and Marion, and 
said alewives shall be sold, as now, to each and every 
family residing in the towns aforesaid, at such price per 
hundred as the majority of the legal voters of said 
towns should from time to time determine;" and the 
net profits were to be divided among the towns accord- 
ing to their respective valuations; and the statutes of 
1857 which set off Mattapoisett contained a similar pro- 



70 MATTAPOISETT 

vision for the distribution of the alewives among the 
inhabitants of the three towns of Rochester, Marion 
and Mattapoisett. All the other town property could 
be divided, but each town held with a firm grip upon 
the alewives, and the ownership of them must be in 
common. In each one of those acts it is also provided 
that the citizens of Rochester should have the same 
privileges as before to take shell and scale fish from 
the shores, flats and waters of the new town. Marion 
could not give up the alewives, nor could Rochester give 
up the clams and quahaugs, or the "scalefish" of the 
harbor. 

This address is already too long, but I cannot refrain 
from mentioning one educational institution of the town 
— Harlow & LeBaron's store. It was a country variety 
store of the usual kind, where one could buy anything 
from a stick of candy to a gallon of oil, from a spool 
of thread to a yard of cloth. For the men it was the 
educational society centre. I wish I could make you 
see it as I, when a boy, saw it — the dark well-worn 
wooden floor, the groceries on one side of the store and 
the dry goods on the other, the small, cylindrical, up- 
right cast iron stove sometimes red with heat on a cold 
day, the long wooden bench upon the grocery side of 
the store — the row of men seated thereon, other men 
sitting or standing wherever there was opportunity. 
See this store, dimly lighted by one or more oil lamps 
in an evening, thus filled with the talkative and social 
denizens of the village, not loafers, but honest, intelli- 
gent artisans, every one of them fit for official responsi- 
bility, and listen to the way in which any question for 
the time being prominent, whether of town, state or 
national importance, is discussed, and you will under- 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 71 

stand what I mean when I say it was an educational 
institution. Many an evening have I, when a boy. 
listened with rapt attention to those discussions, and 
many a time when in after years it fell to me to address 
a jury, did I seem to see before me the very same men 
I had so often seen in that store — their names different 
it is true, and their faces not so familiar, but their 
methods of thought the same — and I knew better how 
to influence them than if I had not had the previous 
experience. There is no education more useful to a 
man who is to move among men, than that which he 
gets by mingling in the society of a country store in 
an old-fashioned New England village. 

There is no time to speak here of those who have 
gone out from this town to professions and other pur- 
suits, but the occasion makes it proper for me to speak 
of one who was one of the prominent actors in the prep- 
aration for this week, and who has not been permitted 
to live to enjoy the festivities he had helped to plan. 
Lemuel LeBaron Holmes, cut off in the prime of life, 
was a typical specimen of the best blood of New Eng- 
land. Of fine personal appearance, with a frank open 
countenance and expressive eyes, mild and unassuming 
yet reserved in manner, he from the very first favor- 
ably impressed all who met him. As a man he was 
kind and true in all family relations, a staunch reliable 
friend and a good citizen. Ready to yield in non-es- 
sentials, but firm as a rock where principle was at stake 
— there was Quaker blood in his veins — he won the re- 
spect and confidence of all. As a lawyer, he was 
learned, painstaking and thorough in the investigation 
of his client's case, and clear and effective in present- 
ing it to the court. He was a safe adviser. In his 



72 MATTAPOISETT 

arguments to the jury he never took an unfair ad- 
vantage of his opponent, never appealed to passion or 
prejudice, but simply to reason. His judgment as to 
where the strength of his case lay, and on what lines it 
should be presented to the jury, was excellent. A per- 
sistent fighter for what he believed to be right, he was 
nevertheless always ready to settle upon a reasonable 
basis. 

As a judge, he was patient, courteous and eminently 
fair. He had a strong grasp of a case, was sure to de- 
tect the principle upon which the decision hinged, mar- 
shalled well the facts ; and his charges to the jury were 
clear, apt and easily understood. He loved this, his 
native village and was very much interested in its local 
history. He was an honor to the town, and to his pro- 
fession — both at the bar and on the bench. The death 
of such a man is a loss to the community and to the 
state. 

I have thus touched upon some features of our town 
history. I would like to speak of others, especially 
of the ecclesiastical history and of the part taken by 
the inhabitants of the town in the Civil War ; but these 
must be omitted. 

We are at the beginning of the second half century. 
How shall our town now be described? I can use no 
better words than those which are found in the book 
from which I have quoted so much. Here they are — 
let us read them together and take in their full mean- 
ing: 

"So Mattapoisett sits today on her beautiful open 
harbor: the waters of Buzzards Bay roll in as blue as 
ever: the alewives still go up the river each April: 
there is still good fishing in the bay and shellfish on 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 73 

the shore. The catboats ride at their moorings around 
the buoy, or their sails glisten in the sun far out toward 
the Falmouth shore. The old family names are on the 
narrow elm shaded streets, and many of the ancient 
houses look upon them still. The town is full of pleas- 
ure-seekers who play tennis, golf, drive, sail, or fish, or 
dance at the Casino; but there is always the sense of 
rest and quiet, the salt air full of ozone, fragrant breath 
of the pines, and the respite from city noise and dust. 

And all along the shore from Aucoot Cove to the 
Fairhaven line, each year sees some new homes built 
for those who seek their rest in close touch with nature 
and old ocean. Vacation and holiday are a part of the 
world's true needs, and in lending its own quiet charms 
to those forms of human demand, this seaside village 
has entered into a new and worthy role, more harmoni- 
ous, perhaps, than were the activities of the past, with 
the musical name it carries — Mattapoisett — "the place 
of rest." "The past at least is secure." God grant 
that in the future, whatever may happen, the standard 
set by our ancestors may be proudly maintained. 



74 MATTAPOISETT 

A MATTAPOISETT SONG 



[Tune, "Fair Harvard"] 



Mattapoisett, thy children think ever of thee, 

'Though throughout the wide world they may roam, 
And wherever their fortune casts for them their lot, 

They still look to thee as their home. 
If where tropical suns beat down fierce on the deck, 

They remember thy cool southwest winds; 
Or, on wide western plains, under shadowless skies, 

They long for thy murmuring .pines. 

Thus, afar, their hearts turn to this home of their youth, 

To the mem'ry of figures now gone; 
They recall, 'though the thought brings a mist to the eye, 

All the charms which thy village adorn. 
They remember thy shores, thy elm-shaded streets, 

Thy river that runs to the sea, 
And they wish that the tide which flows in from the bay 

Might bear them in joy back to thee. 

Mattapoisett, thy children take pride in thy past, 

Since the Indian first sought thy strand, 
And the settler invaded thy forest's deep growth 

And established his hold on the land. 
Oh, thy woodsmen have hewn, and thy artisans shaped, 

The staunch ships that have slid from thy ways; 
And thy captains have sailed into every known sea, 

From thy wharves which endure to these days. 

So, whenever thy children may happen to meet, 

Whether at home or on far distant sea, 
As they think of Lang Syne they will join in a song 

To the praise, Mattapoisett, of thee. 
And they'll offer the prayer, that in all future time, 

Forever, while seasons shall come, 
Their children's descendants may ever have this 

Place of Rest as their beautiful home. 

L. LeB. D. 
August, 1907. 



The illustrations in this book opposite pages 
33, 38, 42, 55, 60, 66, 68, 71 and 72 are from 
" Mattapoisett and Old Rochester," and are used 
by courtesy of The Grafton Press. 



THE GRAFTON HISTORICAL SERIES 
Edited by Henry R. Stiles, A. M., M. D. 



MATTAPOISETT 
and OLD ROCHESTER 

Being a History of these towns and also in part of Marion 
and a portion of Wareham 

BY 

MARY HALL LEONARD 
LEMUEL LeBARON DEXTER 
LEMUEL LeBARON HOLMES 
JAMES S. BURBANK 
LESTER W. JENNEY 
MARY FRANCES BRIGGS 

With many Valuable extracts from the records of the Town 

and of the Second Church in Rochester, 

Mattapoisett Precinct. 

This is the story of one of the oldest of Massachusetts towns. From 
Rochester, were set off at various times, a portion of Wareham, and the 
present towns of Marion and Mattapoisett. The last named, celebrated 
its 50th Anniversary in August, 1907, and this volume was prepared for 
that occasion. It contains an authentic account of the early development 
of the Old Rochester territory, with special chapters on Mattapoisett 
town, church and ship building history; also detailed lists of soldiers 
and sailors, assessors' rates, and early church records of marriages and 
baptisms. 424 + xii pp. With two maps and thirty-two illustrations. 
12 mo., cloth, gilt-top, $2.00 net. (Postage, 16 cents.) 

THE GRAFTON PRESS 
70 Fifth Ave., New York 6 Beacon St., Boston 



LEAp'09 



SEMICENTENNIAL 




AUGUST I8P-24* 
1107 



